February 28, 2012

Springtime Sweets ~ Macaroon Cookie Bird Nests

Baking them once a year (at Christmastime) is not often enough; yet making them every time we crave one of these chewy, chocolatey, coconutty little morsels would render us human dough-balls. So, I simply had to come up with a way to get a mid-year fix. Inspired by my affinity for birds' nests and eggs, I put a springtime twist on the classic Macaroon Kiss.

Introducing

Coconut Cream Cheese Cookie Bird Nests

Makes approx. 48 cookies

For a printable recipe, click the "Print Friendly" icon at the end of this post.

Step
2: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, cream cheese,
and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, vanilla and orange
juice and beat till smooth.

Step 3: In 1 cup increments, mix flour in to the butter mixture. Add the 6 cups flaked coconut and beat to combine.

Step 4: Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.

Step
5: Preheat oven to 350. One at a time, scoop dough into 1.5" balls
(about the size of a large walnut, roll between your palms, then roll in
the bowl of remaining coconut (4 cups). Arrange on an ungreased baking
sheet, at least an inch apart (cookies will spread slightly). A
standard cookie sheet should accommodate a dozen cookies at a time.
Bake 16-18 minutes, until the cookies puff and are lightly
browned.

Step 6: Remove from oven. Immediately press three eggs in to the center of each cookie. You may want to lightly press the edges of the cookie inward to give the nest a fuller shape (optional).

Step
7: Cool on a rack for 15 minutes. With a
thin spatula, gently move cookies on to a rack to finish cooling.

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Jenn these are just too cute!! I can't wait to give them a try - they look really yummy! I featured you this week - http://www.flamingotoes.com/2012/03/crush-of-the-week-think-pink-features-42/ - thanks for linking up!

Yesss, making Macaroon kisses once a year at Christmas is definitely not enough! You've read my mind exactly and combined my two favorite holiday foods. The only downside is I'm probably gonna end up eating them all myself but thank you for the inspiration!!